Homeless and Where Are They Now?
What happened to them
The first part of this story was written by me back in 2013. I’m going to show it exactly how I wrote it. Then I’ll expand on it in the present day.
Text written in 2013
It was a sunny morning when I happened to be at the Eau Gallie Library. I was there using my laptop to run down some information. Outside the window, I noticed two gentlemen. One had a scruffy beard and the other was clean-shaven except for a mustache. With all their stuff, it appeared that these two were homeless. But I wasn’t sure. The clean-shaven guy did not look homeless to me. They had just ridden up on bicycles. One was red with a hitched up tent-like thing on the back. The other was black with pouches. I had seen these gentlemen before at the library. One of them came into the library and had a laptop with him. I wondered if he was using the computer to look for a job. The other guy disappeared for awhile. About 30 minutes later, the other guy re-appeared. He had groceries with him in several bags. I saw mayonnaise, lettuce, turkey and bread. I wondered where they got money to pay for the food? I watched them for a while. They had cell phones. Again, how did they pay for them? Does anyone care that there are people who are living in the woods? Do they have family? What about the kids that are living in their cars? Where are the jobs? How can these people get help? So I decided when the time was right, that I would see if I could talk to them. They looked approachable.
Present Day
The sun is setting while I type this. I don’t live near the Eau Gallie Library anymore. I’m actually thirty minutes away. Before it was a five to seven minute jaunt down a scenic road. You’d drive underneath trees with their canopies hanging over the roadway. There was an open space where you could see the river and all of its occupants. Sailboats cruised the river, landing at different destinations along the way. If you listened to the marine radio, you might hear them calling a local marina to come in for the day. Fishing boats run up and down the river heading to their secret fishing holes. Expensive homes back up to the river with their long, winding driveways. Beat up apartments sit along the road as well. There’s even a restaurant with a small house abutted against the river. It’s up for sale now. It’s out of my price range.
The library is located on the river just before you get to one of the main causeways. It shares the area with the local fishing pier. I have fished off that pier many times even when it was the original configuration. The library has the usual books but they have lots of other items. There’s a special kids section devoted to all kinds of books for kids. They have their own room and a special person to help with checking books out. Want to rent a movie? You can do that too. You can check out DVDs, CDs, and even magazines. They have special rooms where you can go and work behind a closed door. You can still see into the room though. So don’t be doing anything that you shouldn’t. They also have a free area where you can get local newspapers, magazines, and pamphlets. I like free stuff. They have computers for those who don’t have them. People sign up through another computer and then wait for their turn. They are allotted two hours and can check their email, look for jobs, or just surf the web. Wi-fi is available throughout the whole library. They have chairs and comfy seats scattered within the books and tables.
The library has the best view overlooking the river. You can watch all of the action on the river and the pier. Just put your laptop on the long table and enjoy the view. They have paintings on the wall by local artists. You can buy them right off the wall.
Walk the pier and you’ll probably see dolphins in the area. I’ve seen them many times.
Boats regularly moor near the pier. The occupants use their dinghy boats to come to shore. At the time, there was a bed and breakfast right down the street that some of them stayed at.
What Happened To The Two Guys
I often remember the two guys I talked about back in 2013. I wonder what happened to them. Did they make it? Did they ever find a job? Did they ever find happiness? I always wonder what their story was. I heard them say, when they were in the library, something about living in Indian Harbour Beach. It’s located across the causeway. I don’t know of any wooded area where they could have been staying. Maybe they were staying with a friend; a helpful friend that knew their situation and wanted to help them the best they could. If so, that’s good. We all need someone’s help sometimes. Sometimes we’re crying out for help but no one hears us.
I wish I would have gone and talked to them. But sometimes you just don’t know what to do. Maybe I could have learned what put them in such despair. They might not have even opened up to me. Who knows. But sometimes all it takes is someone who you least expect to want to know what is going on with you. There are people out there that care. How do we find those people though?
Until next time, happy reading.
-Matt